Liquid heating container

ABSTRACT

A liquid heating container to be used with a cleaning device, including a main body to store a liquid therein, a heating unit disposed on at least a portion of a base within the main body to increase a temperature level of the liquid in response to generating heat, a temperature controller disposed on at least a portion of the main body to adjust the temperature level based on a temperature setting using the heating unit, and a plurality of wheels disposed on at least a portion of the base to facilitate movement of the main body on a ground surface.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to a container, and particularly, to a liquid heating container.

2. Description of the Related Art

Sanitizing a floor is important to prevent buildup of dirt and creating an unhealthy environment. Some tools used to clean the floor include a broom, a vacuum, and a mop. However, traditional mop containers often allow liquid, such as water and/or cleaning solution to become cold. As such, a user is forced to drain the mop container and replace the liquid with hot and/or warm liquid.

When utilizing a conventional mop, cold liquid is not only less sanitary, but less efficient in cleaning. As such, replacing the cold liquid is a frivolous waste of the liquid that was used to sanitize the floor.

Therefore, there is a need for a liquid container that keeps the liquid warm and/or hot as necessary.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a liquid heating container.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a liquid heating container to be used with a cleaning device, including a main body to store a liquid therein, a heating unit disposed on at least a portion of a base within the main body to increase a temperature level of the liquid in response to generating heat, a temperature controller disposed on at least a portion of the main body to adjust the temperature level based on a temperature setting using the heating unit, and a plurality of wheels disposed on at least a portion of the base to facilitate movement of the main body on a ground surface.

The main body may include a liquid separation compartment disposed on at least a portion of the base to separate the liquid from a space within the liquid separation compartment.

The liquid heating container may further include a liquid separation unit removably disposed within at least a portion of the liquid separation compartment to facilitate removal of an excess of the liquid on the cleaning device into the liquid separation compartment in response to pressing the cleaning device on a surface of the liquid separation unit while disposed within the liquid separation compartment.

The liquid heating container may further include a water pollution detector disposed on and within at least a portion of the main body to detect contamination of the liquid based on the turbidity, such that the water pollution detector displays a warning of the contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a liquid heating container, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a zoomed in view of the liquid heating container, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

-   -   Liquid Heating Container 100     -   Main Body 110     -   Liquid Receiving Aperture 111     -   Liquid Demarcation Line 112     -   Protrusion Portion 113     -   Lip 114     -   Base 115     -   Indented Portion 116     -   Liquid Separation Compartment 117     -   Handle 118     -   Heating Unit 120     -   Temperature Controller 130     -   Liquid Separation Unit 140     -   Water Pollution Detector 150     -   Power Button 160     -   Power Source 170     -   Wheels 180     -   Brakes 181

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a liquid heating container 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 2 illustrates a zoomed in view of the liquid heating container 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The liquid heating container 100 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto. The liquid heating container 100 may be used with a cleaning device 10 (e.g., a mop).

The liquid heating container 100 may include a main body 110, a heating unit 120, a temperature controller 130, a liquid separation unit 140, a water pollution detector 150, a power button 160, a power source 170, and a plurality of wheels 180, but is not limited thereto.

The main body 110 may be constructed such that an outer surface of the main body 110 does not conduct heat.

Referring to FIG. 1, the main body 110 is illustrated to have an oval shape. However, the main body 110 may be a rectangular prism, circular, conical, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto.

The main body 110 may include a liquid receiving aperture 111, a liquid demarcation line 112, a protrusion portion 113, a lip 114, a base 115, an indented portion 116, a liquid separation compartment 117, and a handle 118, but is not limited thereto.

The liquid receiving aperture 111 may disposed within an interior of the main body 110. The liquid receiving aperture 111 may store a liquid 20 therein. For example, the liquid receiving aperture 111 may store water and/or a cleaning solution therein. Moreover, the cleaning device 10 may be inserted into the liquid receiving aperture 111 to apply the liquid 20 thereon. In other words, the liquid receiving aperture 111 may receive the cleaning device 10 therein, such that the liquid 20 may be applied on at least a portion of the cleaning device 10.

The liquid demarcation line 112 may be disposed around an entire perimeter of an inner surface of a top portion of the main body 110. Alternatively, the liquid demarcation line 112 may be disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the top portion of the main body 110. The liquid demarcation line 112 may identify a liquid level based on a predetermined height of the liquid 20 within the main body 110 to prevent spillage. More specifically, the liquid demarcation line 112 may prevent spillage of the liquid 20 based on a predetermined balance of weight of the main body 110 including the liquid 20 therein.

The protrusion portion 113 may be disposed on at least a portion of a top edge of the main body 110. Additionally, the protrusion portion 113 may protrude a predetermined distance away from the outer surface of the main body 110. Similarly, the protrusion portion 113 may be recessed the predetermined distance from the inner surface of the main body 110. In other words, the protrusion portion 113 being recessed the predetermined distance from the inner surface of the main body 110 may correspond to the protrusion portion 113 protruding the predetermined distance away from the outer surface of the main body 110.

Furthermore, the protrusion portion 113 may facilitate pouring the liquid 20 from within the main body 110. Specifically, the protrusion portion 113 may collect the liquid 20 therein due to being recessed with respect to the inner surface of the main body 110.

The lip 114 may be disposed around an entire perimeter of the top edge of the main body 110. Alternatively, the lip 114 may be disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the top edge of the main body 110. Moreover, the lip 114 may protrude away from the outer surface of the top edge of the main body 110. As such, the lip 114 may facilitate gripping thereof.

The indented portion 116 may be disposed on at least a portion of the base 115 of the main body 110. Additionally, the indented portion 116 may be recessed another predetermined distance away from the outer surface of the main body 110. Similarly, the indented portion 116 may protrude the another predetermined distance into the interior of the main body 110. In other words, the indented portion 116 being recessed the another predetermined distance from the outer surface of the main body 110 may correspond to the indented portion 116 protruding the predetermined distance toward the interior of the main body 110.

The liquid separation compartment 117 may be disposed on at least a portion of the base 115. The liquid separation compartment 117 may be a circular compartment having a height extending from the base 115 to at least partially above the liquid demarcation line 112. In other words, the height of the liquid separation compartment 117 may be greater than a height of the liquid demarcation line 112. Also, the liquid separation compartment 117 may be separated from the liquid receiving aperture 111, such that the liquid 20 within the liquid receiving aperture 111 may not mix with contents within the liquid separation compartment 117. In other words, the liquid separation compartment 117 may separate the liquid 20 from a space within the liquid separation compartment 117. Furthermore, the liquid separation compartment 117 may be circumferentially surrounded by the liquid receiving aperture 111 and/or the liquid 20 therein.

The handle 118 may be pivotally disposed on at least a portion of the lip 114. The handle 118 may pivot via a hinge from a first position (i.e. down) to at least partially toward a second position (i.e. up). As such, the handle 118 may facilitate gripping thereof.

The heating unit 120 may include a temperature sensor, an electric coil, an induction heater, and a gas heater, but is not limited thereto.

The heating unit 120 may be disposed on at least a portion of the base 115 within the interior of the main body 110. Alternatively, the heating unit 120 may be disposed on an entire surface of the base 115. The heating unit 120 may increase a temperature level of the liquid 20 in response to generating heat therein. In other words, the heating unit 120 may generate heat, such that the temperature level of the liquid 20 increases.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the temperature controller 130 is illustrated to be a dial. However, the temperature controller 130 may be a slider and/or a digital display unit including a touchscreen, such that the temperature controller 130 may receive input via the digital display unit.

The temperature controller 130 may be disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the main body 110. The temperature controller 130 may have a temperature setting, such as a cold setting, a warm setting, and a hot setting. More specifically, the cold setting of the temperature controller 130 may keep the liquid 20 at a cold temperature, such as between sixty and eighty degrees Fahrenheit. The warm setting of the temperature controller 130 may keep the liquid 20 at a warm temperature, such as between ninety and one-hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit. The hot setting of the temperature controller 130 may keep the liquid 20 at a hot temperature, such as at least one-hundred thirty degrees Fahrenheit.

Therefore, the temperature controller 130 may adjust the temperature level of the liquid 20 based on the temperature setting, such that the heating unit 120 may generate heat in response to manipulation of the temperature controller 130. Furthermore, the heating unit 120 may automatically activate in response to the temperature sensor detecting the temperature level drops below a lowest temperature level of a temperature range for each temperature setting.

The liquid separation unit 140 may include a basket and a sieve, but is not limited thereto.

The liquid separation unit 140 may be removably disposed within at least a portion of the liquid separation compartment 117. The liquid separation unit 140 may receive the cleaning device 10 therein. The liquid separation unit 140 may allow the cleaning device 10 to be disposed thereupon, such that the cleaning device 10 may be pressed against a surface of the liquid separation unit 140. As such, an excess of the liquid 20 may be emptied into the liquid separation compartment 117 prior to use of the cleaning device 10.

The water pollution detector 150 may include a water quality sensor and a display unit, but is not limited thereto.

The water pollution detector 150 may be disposed on and/or within at least a portion of the main body 110. The water pollution detector 150 may be preconfigured to detect for contaminants in the liquid 20. More specifically, the water pollution detector 150 may be preconfigured to detect contamination of the liquid 20 based on at least one of pH, salinity, bacteria, sand, and/or turbidity. As such, the water pollution detector 150 may display a warning on the display unit indicating the liquid 20 is no longer suitable for cleaning.

The power button 160 may be disposed on at least a portion of the main body 110. The power button 160 may turn on and/or turn off the heating unit 120, the temperature controller 130, and/or the water pollution detector 150.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the power source 170 is illustrated to be a power inlet. However, the power source 170 may include a battery and a solar cell, but is not limited thereto.

Additionally, the battery may include lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, alkaline, etc., but is not limited thereto. As such, the power source 170 may charge in response to exposure to a light source and/or receiving external power from a power outlet.

The power source 170 may send power to the heating unit 120, the temperature controller 130, the water pollution detector 150, and/or the power button 160.

Each of the plurality of wheels 180 may include a brake 181, but is not limited thereto.

The plurality of wheels 180 may be removably disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the base 115. The plurality of wheels 180 may rotate to facilitate movement of the main body 110 on a ground surface. Each brake 181 may rotate in a first direction (i.e. clockwise) or a second direction (i.e. counterclockwise) from a horizontal position parallel to the ground surface to at least partially angled with respect to the ground surface to prevent movement of at least one of the plurality of wheels 180. As such, each brake 181 may prevent movement of the main body 110 on the ground surface in response to being rotated in an angled position with respect to the ground surface.

Therefore, the liquid heating container 100 may keep the liquid 20 hot and/or warm, such that the liquid 20 may not be wasted due to becoming cold.

The present general inventive concept may include a liquid heating container 100 to be used with a cleaning device 10, including a main body 110 to store a liquid 20 therein, a heating unit 120 disposed on at least a portion of a base 115 within the main body 110 to increase a temperature level of the liquid 20 in response to generating heat, a temperature controller 130 disposed on at least a portion of the main body 110 to adjust the temperature level based on a temperature setting using the heating unit 120, and a plurality of wheels 180 disposed on at least a portion of the base 115 to facilitate movement of the main body 110 on a ground surface.

The main body 110 may include a liquid separation compartment 117 disposed on at least a portion of the base 115 to separate the liquid 20 from a space within the liquid separation compartment 117.

The liquid heating container 100 may further include a liquid separation unit 140 removably disposed within at least a portion of the liquid separation compartment 117 to facilitate removal of an excess of the liquid 20 on the cleaning device 10 into the liquid separation compartment 117 in response to pressing the cleaning device 10 on a surface of the liquid separation unit 140 while disposed within the liquid separation compartment 117.

The liquid heating container 100 may further include a water pollution detector 150 disposed on and within at least a portion of the main body 110 to detect contamination of the liquid 20 based on the turbidity, such that the water pollution detector 150 displays a warning of the contamination.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A liquid heating container to be used with a cleaning device, comprising: a main body to store a liquid therein; a heating unit disposed on at least a portion of a base within the main body to increase a temperature level of the liquid in response to generating heat; a temperature controller disposed on at least a portion of the main body to adjust the temperature level based on a temperature setting using the heating unit; and a plurality of wheels disposed on at least a portion of the base to facilitate movement of the main body on a ground surface.
 2. The liquid heating container of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises: a liquid separation compartment disposed on at least a portion of the base to separate the liquid from a space within the liquid separation compartment.
 3. The liquid heating container of claim 2, further comprising: a liquid separation unit removably disposed within at least a portion of the liquid separation compartment to facilitate removal of an excess of the liquid on the cleaning device into the liquid separation compartment in response to pressing the cleaning device on a surface of the liquid separation unit while disposed within the liquid separation compartment.
 4. The liquid heating container of claim 1, further comprising: a water pollution detector disposed on and within at least a portion of the main body to detect contamination of the liquid based on the turbidity, such that the water pollution detector displays a warning of the contamination. 